Handicrafts and Historic Crafts as Strategic Elements in the Development and Support of Tourism in Al Ahsa

(Ismail Ibrahim Mahmoud and Mohammad Abdullatif Almulla)

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Abstract

Handicrafts play an important role in the development of the tourism sector. In order to vitalize that role, appropriate strategies have to be set to support and nurture handicrafts to ensure their continuity and integration with the tourism sector and economic growth. The aim of this research is to study the role of the supporting mechanisms for handicrafts that can contribute to the economic development of the tourism sector. The statistical results of the current study confirm the mutual impact between the interest in traditional crafts and the revitalization of the types of tourism suitable for Al Ahsa. It also shows that the efforts put into supporting and nurturing handicrafts have not led to significant changes. This requires urgency in taking the appropriate measures and implementing the suggestions of this research to transform these trades into alternatives to government jobs and encourage investment in crafts. This shall, moreover, provide employment and economic growth Al-Ahsa, help increase national income and support the development of the tourism sector. KEYWORDS cultural resources, heritage tourism, small and medium industries, sustainable development, tourist activation, urban competition
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